Kick-off event: Wikipedia on Aruba, Aruba on Wikipedia

The 18-month pilot project aims to inform the local community about the power of Wikipedia, build an active knowledge-sharing community, and showcase Aruba’s rich heritage on the global online platform.

Wikipedia on Aruba is organized by Wikimedia Nederland in collaboration with Archivo Nacional Aruba, Biblioteca Nacional Aruba, Stichting Monumentenfonds, and Union di Organisacionnan Cultural Arubano. The project is funded by Fonds Cultuurparticipatie. Led by Wikimedian in Residence Ginelly Quandt, Project Lead Michelle van Lanschot, and Project Coordinator Ricardo Arends, the initiative will empower individuals to contribute knowledge to Wikipedia, ensuring greater online accessibility and representation of Aruba’s culture, history, and language.

Kick-Off Event Information

Date: Thursday, February 13, 2025
Location: Biblioteca Nacional Aruba
Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

The event will feature introductions to the project, interactive discussions, and insights on how the community can get involved. Participants will learn how Wikipedia works, its credibility processes, and how they can contribute by writing articles in Papiamento or adding open-licensed images to the media repository of Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons.

About Wikipedia on Aruba

The Wikipedia on Aruba project is dedicated to making knowledge about Aruba freely accessible. It focuses on:

• Advocating the importance of Wikipedia for preserving and promoting Aruba’s heritage.
• Inspiring people to share and document Aruba’s history and rich information in our language on Wikipedia, creating a lasting impact.
• Building a community of passionate contributors who will write and share knowledge in Papiamento.
• Uploading free-to-use images and content about Aruba’s culture, landmarks, and history.
• Collaborating with cultural heritage organizations to make their knowledge and collections available on the Wikimedia platforms

Why this matters

Aruba has a rich cultural heritage that deserves to be recognized globally and preserved online. However, much of its history, traditions, and knowledge remain underrepresented on online platforms. This initiative ensures that Aruba’s stories are told authentically and remain accessible for future generations.

Call to Action

The community is invited to attend the kick-off event and be part of this exciting movement. Whether you’re passionate about Aruba’s heritage, interested in contributing knowledge, or simply curious to learn more—this project welcomes everyone!

For more information, contact us at
wikipediaonaruba@wikimedia.nl
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